Volcano Spews Lava, Ash Close To Guatemala City

Other News to Note - Caribbean & Latin America

January 17, 2000

GUATEMALA CITY - A volcano near Guatemala City erupted Sunday, spewing lava and ash into the air and forcing officials to evacuate at least two neighboring villages, officials said. Officials also shut down the airport as a precaution. The Pacaya volcano, 25 miles south of Guatemala City, began spewing lava and ash at 4:15 p.m., said Luis Alberto Sanchez Flores, a volcanologist at the National Volcanologist Institute. Emergency officials said no injuries had been reported, and at least 792 villagers from Patrocinio and El Caracol had been sent to temporary shelters.